How to Spend Three Days in Savannah, Georgia – Best Itinerary

Savannah is the perfect destination to explore over a long weekend, and three days in Savannah is just perfect. It’s a small city, you can see most of it on foot, and just walking from place to place is just as entertaining as the sights themselves!

I adore Savannah — it’s one of my favorite cities in the United States, and I’m always looking for another chance to return.

Known as the Hostess City of the South, historic Savannah has so much to offer — beautiful squares, cute coffee shops, independent bookstores, the most beautiful cemeteries in the country, historic sites, horse-drawn carriages, fantastic food, and much more.

Three days is the perfect amount of time for Savannah, so I’ve carefully planned this three-day Savannah itinerary to make sure it’s logical and well-timed and works perfectly.

Savannah is a special place to me and I want you to love it as much as I do. It’s truly the perfect quintessential Southern city.

Know one thing — this three-day itinerary isn’t ironclad. The world won’t implode if you don’t follow this Savannah itinerary to the letter.

The most important part of visiting Savannah isn’t explicitly mentioned here: exploring the many squares that dot the city. That said, if you’re walking throughout the Historic District, you’ll hit the squares constantly. Take time to see what makes each square special! (Here’s a hint for one — Chippewa Square is where the famous Forrest Gump bench scenes were filmed!)

This post was most recently updated in January 2024.

Day One: Get Acquainted with Savannah

Wake up whenever you’d like — and have a light breakfast. You’re having the meal of your life for lunch at Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room, and it could be on the early side, depending on how willing you are to wait.

How about a coffee, then? Some of my favorite coffee shops in Savannah are The Coffee Fox, Gallery Espresso, and Savannah Coffee Roasters (which is a short walk from Mrs. Wilkes’ — just six minutes).

(Truth: I love Savannah coffee shops so much, I have a hand-drawn map of Savannah coffee shops hanging in my kitchen! I got it at the Savannah West Elm a few years ago.)

Depending on what time you wake up and how long it will take you to walk to Mrs. Wilkes’, feel free to have this time to stroll around and explore the squares at your leisure.

Lunch at Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room

This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants on the planet — and definitely one of the most popular Savannah restaurants. Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room serves southern specialties to large communal tables. Once the food is blessed, you and your new friends dig in!

You’ll have big bowls of everything from fried chicken and sausage to mac and cheese, black-eyed peas, the most heavenly cheesy mashed potatoes (those are my favorite), candied yams, and more. Wash it all down with sweet tea, and don’t miss their banana pudding for dessert.

Get in line from 10:30 AM-12:00 PM; the first seating is at 11:00 AM. The line forms from early in the day, especially on weekends. I once got in line at 10:30 and was seated at 11:30 AM, so be sure to plan it carefully.

Explore Jones Street and the surrounding area

Mrs. Wilkes’ is located on Jones Street, which is home to some of the most beautiful houses in Savannah. I recommend walking up and down the street, photographing all the beautiful houses.

And it’s a great way to walk off your heavy Mrs. Wilkes lunch!

Next door to Mrs. Wilkes’ is One Fish Two Fish, a fun store I always like poking my head into. Great for souvenirs!

Visit Forsyth Park

Head down through the southern squares, pausing at the Mercer-Williams House en route. The Mercer-Williams house is the setting of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and a must if you’ve read the incredible book or seen the movie.

(Fun fact: when a movie was being filmed in Monterey Square, in front of the house, then-resident Jim Williams was disgruntled with the film crew, so he hung a giant Nazi flag from his house to stop the filming. It worked.)

Once you hit the park, the fountain is one of the symbols of the city. Also, the houses surrounding the park are just as beautiful as those on Jones Street, if not more so! Take a nice walk around the park and enjoy all the gnarled oak trees dripping with Spanish moss.

ALTERNATIVE OPTION: If you’re an early riser, you may prefer exploring Forsyth Park and Jones St. before going to Mrs. Wilkes’, leaving you more time in the afternoon for another activity.

Explore the shops of the area

Take the scenic route back up north, stopping in cute shops along the way. The southern part of the Historic District is home to some unique shops like One Fish Two Fish (gifts and housewares), Satchel (incredible handmade leather goods), The Book Lady (used books), and Chocolat (artisanal chocolates).

Note that these shops lead you up to Chippewa Square — the square where Forrest Gump sat on his bench! The actual bench is no longer there — it’s now in the Savannah History Museum — but plenty of people pose for photos in the spot where the bench used to be.

Grab an afternoon pick-me-up at Gallery Espresso

Need an afternoon pick-me-up? Head to Gallery Espresso, one of my favorite cafes in Savannah, which happens to be very close to where you’re exploring

This artsy coffee shop is a good spot to take a quiet break with a beverage. It also happens to be the oldest coffee shop in Savannah — which sounds super historic until you realize it opened in 1993.

Not a coffee drinker? You’ll find plenty of teas on the menu, as well as Italian sodas, lemonade, and even wine. They also have a gorgeous selection of cakes, including some gluten-free options.

Explore the shops on Broughton Street

Broughton Street is the main drag in Savannah. This is where you’ll find the city center and plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafes.

My absolute favorite shop in Savannah (and perhaps the world) is The Paris Market, which sells Paris-themed housewares and adorable things you didn’t think you’d ever need.

One of my all-time favorite souvenirs is an etched glass bottle filled with matches from The Paris Market, and it lives on my coffee table today, forever a reminder of my wonderful trips to Savannah.

Also on Broughton Street is Leopold’s Ice Cream — a must during your visit. This old-timey ice cream place seems to always have a line out the door — and this ice cream is DELICIOUS. Their lemon custard, rum bisque, and tutti frutti flavors are unchanged since 1919 (!), and they have vegan and gluten-free options.

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Dinner at Alligator Soul

It’s all about southern cuisine in Savannah, and Alligator Soul is one of the more whimsical restaurants in town, serving exotic meats on a constantly changing Southern-influenced menu.

Yes, alligator is on the menu here! The alligator boudin fritters are a fun appetizer, and their carving board features candied alligator. And then there’s the alligator chorizo Mac and cheese! You can also choose from game selections that could include duck or antelope, ostrich or red deer, depending on availability.

The chic basement setting, formerly a grain storehouse, is as interesting as the menu.

Go on the Dead of Night Tour

Savannah claims to be the most haunted city in the United States, and you’ll see ghost tours advertised everywhere. My suggestion? Go for the BEST ghost tour — the Dead of Night tour.

I’m not a ghost tour person ordinarily, but the Dead of Night Tour is one of the best tours I have ever done, anywhere. Seriously.

This is an adults-only tour (age 16+) with tours at 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM. And it’s “alcohol-friendly” — you’re welcome to bring a drink along if you’d like.

It wasn’t as scary as I feared it would be — just incredibly interesting. And most of that had to do with my guide Skippy, who is engaging, enthusiastic, and full of stories. If you get Skippy for a guide, you will be in excellent hands!

Note that this is one of the most popular tours in town, and it sells out ahead of time. I recommend booking as soon as you know your dates.

Day Two: Go Deeper Into Savannah

Have breakfast at your hotel or a nearby cafe

If you’re looking for a good place for breakfast, I recommend B. Matthew’s Eatery. This restaurant turns out lots of southern classics for breakfast and brunch, including a fried green tomato Benedict with crab cakes (my favorite!).

They also have challah French toast, chicken and biscuits, a jalapeño breakfast wrap, and a wide, detailed menu of Bloody Marys. Perfect way to start the day in Savannah!

Tour a Historic Home

There are plenty of historic homes to tour in Savannah. I highly recommend you visit at least one of them, though if you get hooked, visit all of them!

Here are a few options, all of which are located in the historic center:

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace — Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts, so I think a pilgrimage here is a must for former Girl Scouts! Low had also had a very interesting life and a beautiful home.

Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for seniors, military, and students; $10 for Girl Scouts and Girl Scout adults; and free for children under 5.

Owens-Thomas House — I think this is the most interesting of the houses, and is the top recommendation of the guides of the Savannah Architecture Tour. It was an engineering marvel of its time!

Admission to the Owens-Thomas House includes admission to all the Telfair Museums, including the Jepson Center for the Arts, which I mention below. Tickets to everything is $30 for adults, $27 for seniors and active military, $20 for students with ID, $10 for children age 6-12, and free for children under 6.

Mercer-Williams House — Finally, this is where the sinister events of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil took place! If you’re a fan, you must visit. The decor here is extra, and it’s been restored beautifully.

Tickets are $13.50 for adults, $12 for students and active military, and free for children under 6.

Have lunch at The Collins Quarter

The Collins Quarter is a spot I hit up every time I’m in Savannah. This funky cafe is modern, bright, and has lots of outdoor seating overlooking Oglethorpe Ave. (Note that there are two locations, and I’m referring to the downtown location on Bull St. here. The other is in Forsyth Park.)

I highly recommend you try the spiced lavender mocha — a coffee drink with espresso, condor chocolate, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and lavender. I am obsessed with these drinks and have sent more of my readers to try these more than any other coffee beverage in the world!

And it’s a great place for lunch, with a variety of dishes. By now you might want to eat a bit light after the marathon of eating yesterday! If that’s the case, the avocado toast, the panzanella salad, and the vegan roasted zucchini main dish make great choices.

Otherwise, you can go nuts on the fried rainbow trout, short ribs, or burger.

Explore the Riverfront

Head down to the banks of the Savannah River for photos and chilled out vibes. River Street is where it’s at. If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, grab a praline (pronounced PRAW-leen — we are in the South, y’all!) from River Street Sweets. This is also a good spot to pick up treats to bring home with you.

If you’d like, hop on a Riverboat Sightseeing Cruise! These 90-minute tours leave mid-afternoon and take place on a gorgeous wooden old-timey ship. The captains are gregarious and will share lots of stories — you’ll even get to hear the cannons at Old Fort Jackson!

(Note that they also offer a lunch buffet cruise, but I don’t recommend this — there are so many excellent restaurants in Savannah that you’re better off eating on land.)

Dinner at the Olde Pink House

The Olde Pink House has long had a reputation for being Savannah’s top restaurant in a city full of wonderful restaurants. And people aren’t wrong! I definitely recommend experiencing the finer side of dining in Savannah, along with some unique southern fusion dishes.

The Olde Pink House is tremendously popular, and I strongly recommend making a reservation as soon as possible. If you’re traveling solo in Savannah, ask to be seated at the bar. I met two fellow solo female travelers there and we shared our dishes!

So what should you eat? Honestly, I’d order a bunch of appetizers, whether solo or sharing. Two of my favorites are the shrimp and grits, which are served in an interesting way over a cheddar grit cake, and the BLT salad, with lots of bacon and fried green tomatoes in a peppery buttermilk dressing.

Beyond those dishes, you could enjoy deep dish chicken pot pie, pan-seared sea scallops, crispy half duck in black vinegar, or vegetarian vidalia onion and sweet potato ravioli, among many other delicious options.

Drinks at Jen’s & Friends

Up for a nightcap? Have I got the place for you! Jen’s & Friends is just a few blocks from the Olde Pink House on Bull Street.

It looks like a nondescript dive bar from the outside, but then you realize that they have 300 martinis on the menu! YES, THREE HUNDRED. The menu has the heft of an encyclopedia.

If you’re like my dad, who is insulted at the idea of a “martini” containing anything other than gin and vermouth, don’t worry — they also have a menu of craft beers.

If it’s someone’s birthday — or even if it’s not — I recommend the birthday cake martini, which comes with an actual hostess cake as a garnish on the glass! Another one I loved was the watermelon lemon drop, equal parts sweet and sour.

The crowd here can vary — it might be on the quiet side, or you might be smack dab in the middle of several bachelorette parties — but it’s my favorite place in Savannah to close out an evening. I even had a reader meetup here once!

Day Three: Beyond the Historic Center of Savannah

Start with breakfast at your hotel, or a quick bite nearby.

Your day will start at 10:00 AM, so be ready!

Take an Architectural Tour of Savannah

Are you into architecture? You will be salivating at what Savannah has to offer. Architectural Savannah has tours at 10:00 AM led by an architect that teach you so much about the city’s unique layout and buildings.

You’ll also learn tidbits that you wouldn’t have heard when exploring on your own.

Does an architecture tour not sound like your thing? Perhaps go for the Historic Savannah Tour instead. This walking tour, starting at 9:30 AM, will take you around the most spectacular squares and buildings and your guide will be a history gold mine.

Check out the Jepson Center for the Arts

The Jepson Center for the Arts is the city’s best art museum — and I think it’s an essential stop for a Savannah trip, especially since admission here includes the Owens-Thomas House.

The architecture tour finishes right in front of the Jepsen Center, and by then, you’ll probably be eager for air conditioning! This museum has a surprisingly good selection of art for its size, along with some rotating exhibits. The famous “Bird Girl” statue featured in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is here.

Admission to the Jepson Center for the Arts includes admission to all the Telfair Museums, including the Owens-Thomas House. Tickets to everything is $30 for adults, $27 for seniors and active military, $20 for students with ID, $10 for children age 6-12, and free for children under 6.

Lunch at Back in the Day Bakery

Back in the Day Bakery is a cute little place south of the Historic District. I recommend taking an Uber or Lyft here if you don’t have a car.

You’ll love the vintage decor inside this place — and the Rosie the Riveter outfits the staff wear! They serve some fantastic sandwiches, and you MUST go all in on the baked goods. They make SUCH good cookies! My favorites are the Earl Grey cookies and the lavender cookies.

If you want to have lunch somewhere else today, I recommend stopping here on the way to the airport to pick up a box of cookies to take home!

After lunch, I’m going to give you two options that are just outside Savannah.

Option 1: Visit Bonaventure Cemetery

Bonaventure Cemetery is the big, famous cemetery outside the city. Several graves of prominent residents are located here, and the area is great for getting spooky Southern photos, with all the angel statues and Spanish moss.

I recommend taking a tour in Bonaventure Cemetery — you will get so much out of your visit. This Bonaventure Cemetery Tour includes transportation from Savannah, and the guide will tell you stories of the people who are buried here.

If you have a rental car, you can drive to the cemetery yourself. It’s about a 15-minute drive from the Historic District of Savannah.

One of my eeriest moments in Savannah was making eye contact with the statue at Little Gracie Watkins’s grave. At that moment I felt something INSIDE me. Like it was her ghost.

Bonaventure Cemetery is a shorter trip; you definitely won’t need more than two hours here. If you head back afterward, explore more of Savannah at your leisure. Or, if you have a car, you could even head to Tybee Island next.

Option 2: Visit Tybee Island

Tybee Island is Savannah’s beach — a beautiful stretch of sand just outside town. Tybee Island is a beach destination in its own right (and I once did a multi-day Tybee Island trip), but it’s equally satisfying as just an afternoon trip.

And even though it’s an island, don’t worry — the road goes straight there over a bridge and you don’t need to take a ferry!

There are a few different ways to get to Tybee Island. If you don’t have a car, I recommend this day trip to Tybee Island, which includes transportation from Savannah, a dolphin-watching cruise, a visit to the lighthouse, and some beach time. Do know that it leaves at 9:30 AM or 11:30 AM, so you’ll have to carefully plan your morning.

If you have a rental car, Tybee Island is about a 30-minute drive from Savannah’s Historic District. You can also take an Uber here if you’d like, but it can be hard getting Ubers in Tybee Island.

If you drive to Tybee Island on your own, this is a great tour of Tybee Island that lasts an hour and 15 minutes and begins at 12:00 PM. After that, feel free to relax!

Another option is to take a bike tour of Tybee Island, departing at 10:00 AM or 12:00 PM. I rented a bike while I was in Tybee and it’s such an easy place to explore on two wheels, even if you’re not a hardcore cyclist.

However much time you decide to spend on Tybee, get back to Savannah in time for dinner.

READ MORE:

A Getaway to Tybee Island: Savannah’s Beach

Dinner at Vinnie Van Go Go’s

Honestly, I’m guessing that by this point in your three day Savannah trip, you’ll probably be in the mood for something a little different from Southern fare. Vinnie Van Go Go’s is home to pizzas that are as ENORMOUS as they are delicious.

After three days of fried chicken and grits, I was glad to dive into their artichoke pizza! They also have some spinach salads on the menu if you want some vegetables.

Where to Stay in Savannah

My top recommendation in Savannah is to stay in the Historic District. This is the central part of town, and you’ll be within easy walking distance to everything. (Just make sure that you have parking if you’re bringing your car.)

I encourage you to stay in a busier area — think a street that has lots of shops and restaurants on it rather than a residential street. The residential streets in Savannah are very quiet at night and when I’m traveling solo, I prefer to stick to busier areas where more people are around.

So for that reason, I’m much more likely to stay at a hotel than an apartment in Savannah.

Here are my top recommendations for where to stay in Savannah, all of which are located in the Historic District:

• Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Savannah: Andaz Savannah. I stayed here and absolutely loved the decor, the comfortable beds, the leg shaving shelf in the shower (!), and the PERFECT location on Ellis Square, which is busy and well-traversed.
• Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Savannah: Marshall House. This gorgeous property is in a red brick building with wrought-iron balconies and a porch with rocking chairs, right in the heart of Broughton Street.
• Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Savannah: Thunderbird Inn. Budget is relative in pricey Savannah, especially right downtown, but this hotel has clean, bright rooms in an easily accessible location.

Find deals on hotels in Savannah here.

How to Get Around Savannah

If you stay in historic downtown Savannah, as I recommend above, you can get pretty much anywhere on foot. The only exceptions would be to places like Tybee Island, Fort Pulaski, Bonaventure Cemetery, and the plantations. You can typically find tours to most of those places, if you aren’t up for renting a car.

If you would prefer to limit your walking within Savannah, you can jump on the historic hop-on hop-off trolley, which stops at many of the major historic attractions. (You may even get a visit from local personalities, including Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates!)

Uber and Lyft exist in Savannah, and they’re a great way to get around. This is how I recommend coming in from the airport if you don’t have a car, and a nice option for getting to further afield locations like Back in the Day Bakery and Bonaventure Cemetery.

Otherwise, you can feel free to rent a car in Savannah. Just make sure that you figure out where to park before your visit — whether your hotel has parking available or you choose one of the parking garages. Find deals on car rental rates here.

How Many Days Do You Need In Savannah?

As you probably guessed from this Savannah itinerary, I think three days is the perfect of time in Savannah. It makes the perfect weekend or long weekend getaway.

If you only have two days, you can still see quite a bit of the city, and more days would allow you to get off the beaten path and visit nearby destinations as well.

But for me? I would happily stay in Savannah for weeks, but for a traveler on their first visit, three days in Savannah, Georgia is really the sweet spot.

Best Time To Visit Savannah

Savannah, Georgia is a city where people live year-round, so you’ll have a good time whenever you visit. But if you’re looking for wonderful weather, I would aim for spring — April in particular is about as lovely as Savannah gets.

But, if you have a choice? Avoid July and August, especially if you don’t love hot and humid weather. The state of Georgia can get HOT during the summer, and crowded, too. I find spring and fall to be much more pleasant and think you’ll have the best experience if you go then.

Savannah does get hurricanes on occasion, and hurricane season is at its worst in September and early October. If a hurricane hits while you’re in Savannah, listen to the authorities and do as they say.

One thing to note is that Savannah holds the second largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the United States (after NYC), so that’s not a bad time to visit either if you love to party! Keep in mind that this is a very busy and expensive time to visit, as is Halloween and New Year’s Eve.

Don’t forget to wander in Savannah!

I want to reemphasize that this is just a rough itinerary — feel free to customize it to your preferences! The best Savannah trip is the trip tailored to YOUR personal interests.

Beyond that, Savannah is the perfect place for wandering. My favorite thing to do in Savannah is just wander and explore the squares and historic buildings and appreciate the stunning Spanish moss hanging from the trees. It might not be official “sightseeing,” but it certainly isn’t a waste of time in my book!

Spend your days the way you want to and I’m sure that you, too, will fall in love with Savannah.

More On Savannah:

• Solo Female Travel in Savannah: Is it Safe?
• 16 Reasons to Fall in Love with Savannah
• Exploring Tybee Island, Savannah’s Beach

More Weekend Getaways in the US:

• Key West, You Are My New Favorite
• Ultimate Guide to Provincetown, Massachusetts
• A Weekend at Maryland’s Eastern Shore
• Solo Female Travel in New Orleans: Is it Safe?

Have you been to Savannah? What would you add to this list?

Many thanks to Visit Savannah for their support. All opinions, as always, are my own.